The Mets open up a four-game series at home against the Nationals on Thursday. Here are tonight’s pitching matchups…
Jacob deGrom (2-2, 2.96 ERA) will start for the Mets. After dominating in each of his first three starts, deGrom hit his first rough patch of the season last Friday against the Yankees, allowing six runs in five innings, raising his ERA from 0.93 to 2.96. Something to look at for deGrom tonight is how he’s fared against left-handed hitters this season, and so far, it hasn’t been pretty. Through four starts, lefties are hitting .404 against deGrom (2nd highest in MLB) and .367 off of his fastball with a .667 slugging percentage. So far this season, deGrom has allowed three home runs to left-handers, after allowing just two all of last year. It will be interesting to watch if deGrom can pick himself back up after his last start, and control any left-handers in the Nationals line-up.
Key matchups vs deGrom:
Bryce Harper: 2-for-6, 2 K.
Ryan Zimmerman: 1-for-3, HR.
Ian Desmond: 2-for-6, HR, 3 RBI.
Stephen Strasburg (1-2, 4.88 ERA) will start for the Nationals. Strasburg has struggled this year, and is coming off of a start vs. the Marlins where he took the loss, allowing four earned runs in six innings. The Mets have already seen the former #1 overall draft pick once this season, where he allowed six runs (three earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out five in 5.1 innings pitched. One thing Strasburg is doing well, however, is getting ahead in the count early. Strasburg has been in 1-2 counts 50 times this season, as compared to being in a 2-1 count just 12 times, resulting in a 4.17 ratio. In comparison, the league average or 1-2 counts compared to 2-1 counts is 1.74.
Key matchups vs. Strasburg:
Michael Cuddyer: 4-for-12, RBI, 4 K.
Lucas Duda: 1-for-7, HR, 3 BB.
Daniel Murphy: 4-for-13, RBI, 2 BB.
John Mayberry Jr: 2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI.
Just Mets 